Kansas City Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

Kansas City is a motorcyclist’s dream destination with flat, straight roads stretching across America’s heartland. It’s also a good state for motorcycle enthusiasts who choose the more gas-friendly option of riding a motorcycle for daily trips to work, school, or errands. Unfortunately, it’s also a city with a high number of motorcycle accidents each year. The same unencumbered open-air ride that makes a motorcycle thrilling also leaves bikers vulnerable to severe injuries in a crash.

If you or a loved one suffered serious injuries in a motorcycle accident in Kansas City through no fault of your own, the Kansas City motorcycle accident lawyer at Miller & Hine are ready to help you maximize the amount of compensation you recover in your claim.

Why Choose Miller & Hine for Your Motorcycle Accident Lawyers in Kansas City?

Getting the most out of an accident claim is a challenging process in fault-based insurance states, but never more so than when an injury victim is up against powerful insurance companies with a known bias against motorcyclists. Instead of trusting a system that prioritizes profits over paying out on claims, you need assertive legal advocacy working on your behalf while you focus on recovering from your injury. By hiring a Kansas City accident attorney from Miller & Hine, you’ll have all of the advantages of a large city law firm with the personalized attention and compassionate understanding of a small-town attorney including the following:

• Over 50 years of combined legal experience and in-depth knowledge of Kansas City traffic laws and insurance system legalities
• Free consultations and contingency-based payment so you pay nothing until we recover your compensation
• The collaborative efforts of a team of sharp legal minds as well as the dedicated representation and legal counsel of your attorney
• A results-oriented approach to achieving the best possible settlement while preparing the case for court throughout the process so we’re ready to litigate if necessary
• Open communication and availability so you’re always informed and included in every step of the process of recovering compensation for your damages

Our track record of success includes large recent settlements such as a $300,000 settlement for a motorcycle accident and a $610,000 settlement for a car accident victim. Our reputation and resources in Kansas City generate strong negotiation power when working toward the settlement you deserve for your motorcycle accident injuries.

Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents in Kansas City

Motorcycles have a slim, two-wheeled design that makes it more difficult for drivers to see them and to accurately judge speed and distance compared to a standard passenger vehicle. Still, drivers have a duty to take all reasonable precautions to avoid causing injury to a vulnerable motorcyclist in traffic. Many motorcycle accidents result directly from driver error. Common causes of motorcycle accidents in Kansas City include the following:

• A driver’s failure to yield the right of way
• Distracted drivers
• Speeding drivers
• Tailgating drivers
• Car door accidents
• Drunk drivers
• Drivers making unsafe lane changes
• Drivers making left turns while looking to the right and failing to see a motorcycle approaching from the left
• Unsafe passing

Less commonly, a motorcycle accident could result from a defective motorcycle part or a negligent road maintenance agency. When an accident is caused by a defective part, a defective product claim against the manufacturer secures compensation for an injury victim. Accidents caused by road hazards or traffic light malfunctions require a claim against a negligent city agency.

What Injuries are Common in Kansas City Motorcycle Accidents?

A Department of Transportation (DOT) approved motorcycle helmet reduces the risk of death by about 37% in an accident, but cannot prevent all injuries or fatalities due to the body’s direct impact on the roadway or obstacles. Common injuries in motorcycle accidents include the following:

• Head injuries/traumatic brain injuries
• Fractures of the limbs, hip, pelvis, and ribs
• Neck injuries
• Back injuries
• Knee injuries
• Shoulder injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Internal organ injuries
• Road rash (severe abrasions)

Injuries in motorcycle accidents may be severe or catastrophic, with life-altering implications like disability; however, even less serious injuries quickly become expensive due to medical costs and lost wages during the recovery period. When someone else’s actions caused the injury, you shouldn’t be left with the undue burden of expenses.

Proving Liability for a Motorcycle Accident

Proving liability for a motorcycle accident claim requires an investigation and documentation of evidence demonstrating that the at-fault party’s actions meet the elements of negligence that leave them liable for damages. This requires showing the following:

• That the at-fault party owed a duty of care to others on the roadway, including motorcyclists
• They breached their duty through an act of negligence
• The negligent breach of duty directly caused the accident
• The accident victim suffered significant economic and non-economic damages due to the accident

A skilled Kansas City motorcycle accident attorney from Miller & Hine will thoroughly investigate all aspects of your motorcycle accident, document evidence of liability and make a compelling case for the maximum compensation available.

What Damages Can I Recover After My Kansas City Motorcycle Accident?

Motorcycle accident victims typically have serious injuries requiring medical procedures, physical therapy, and long recovery times. You or your loved one may face financial hardship during recovery. A successful compensation claim brings compensation for damages including any or all of the following:

• Medical costs
• Future accident-related medical expenses
• Lost wages
• Future income loss
• Lowered future earning capacity
• Pain and suffering
• Diminished quality of life
• Scarring/disfigurement

Compensation in a Kansas City motorcycle accident claim typically comes from the at-fault party’s insurance through a settlement. Only in about five to ten percent of cases does the claim require litigation in court.

What to Do After a Motorcycle Accident

After a motorcycle accident, you may be too seriously hurt to do little other than wait in place for help. Sometimes, taking just a moment to use your phone can preserve critical evidence that’s otherwise lost as soon as law enforcement moves your motorcycle and any involved vehicles to restore traffic flow. If you can sit up and use your phone, snapping photos even from your position can help. Photograph the accident scene, damaged vehicles, and any visible injuries. Add the contact information of anyone involved and any eyewitnesses.

Always go to the hospital for medical treatment and a complete evaluation and obtain a detailed medical report. The evidence you gather helps to streamline the claim process after a motorcycle accident.

Call the Attorneys at Miller & Hine Today so We can Hear About Your Case and Take Action

No one should have to manage a complicated legal action at the same time that they are recovering from serious injuries. Contact Miller & Hine so we can evaluate the merits of your case and begin prompt action. Let our Kansas City personal injury attorneys navigate your financial recovery while you focus on your physical recovery.